Zambia stun Ivory Coast to win African Nations trophy

12 February 2012 11:16

Zambia clinched their first African Nations Cup crown with a poignant 8-7 penalty shoot-out win over Ivory Coast after the game had finished goalless.

Nineteen years after a plane crash which killed 18 members of their squad in Libreville, the Chipolopolo returned to the Gabon capital to record the most famous victory in the country's history.

A dramatic shoot-out at the end of 120 minutes of largely underwhelming football went the way of Zambia when Gervinho shot wide and Stophira Sunzu stepped up to slot home.

The underdogs started brightly and almost claimed a second-minute lead, Nathan Sinkala's low drive superbly saved by Ivory Coast goalkeeper Boubacar Barry low to his right.

It took Ivory Coast's star-studded line-up 30 minutes to create a noteworthy chance, a clever backheel from Didier Drogba picking out Yaya Toure but the Manchester City midfielder failing to find the target from eight yards.

The match degenerated into a scrappy affair after half-time with neither side able to put together a period of sustained pressure. But in a rare moment of quality, Gervinho provided Drogba with the chance to redeem himself for his penalty shoot-out miss in the 2006 final defeat to Egypt.

The Arsenal forward burst into the area and was felled by a combination of Isaac Chansa and Mulenga, but Drogba sidefooted his spot-kick horribly over the bar. The Elephants had another chance to win it in normal time but substitute Max Gradel, having turned his man inside the area, shot inches wide of the far post.

Zambia had the only chance in the first period of extra-time and it almost resulted in the opening goal. Felix Katongo beat his marker down the right and crossed for brother Christopher, whose close-range shot would have sneaked in at the near post but for a vital touch from Barry's boot.

Ivory Coast had two chances to win it after the break but Didier Ya Konan curled an effort just wide while, after 117 minutes, Gradel took an airshot when well placed.

The shoot-out was locked at 7-7 after 14 nerveless penalties before Kolo Toure saw his effort saved by Kennedy Mweene. Rainford Kalaba fluffed his big moment by shooting over the bar but there was no second reprieve when Gervinho missed and Sunzu slotted in.